Tag Archives: Abraham

The month of March came and left, as we celebrated the strong, powerful, and influential women over the last 31 days.

In Proverbs 31, many of us are familiar with the virtuous woman. If you read from verses 10-31, you will see the true essence of womanhood. Countless churches have held bible studies and programs further exploring the characteristics and qualities needed to become such a woman.

Too often we look to the women of our days for wisdom, knowledge, and examples. We rarely ever look to the women of the bible. Ever wondered which woman you identify the most with?

Would it be Esther, a young Jewish woman who God called to save her people? Or how about Mary Magdalene, who had lost her way and showed how your life can be turned around if you accept God’s love and everlasting promise for eternal life? Let’s not forget Hannah who prayed to God for a child. She was ridiculed by everyone, for her inability to have children. Hannah never lost faith and God blessed her with three sons and two daughters. One of her sons, Samuel became a great man of God. Finally, Ruth who had lost her husband and stayed to look after Naomi, her mother-in-law despite her request to return home and seek a new husband. She did later marry another man named Boaz who cared for her and her in-law.

As the final days of this sinful earth quickly pass by, I see one woman who is too often emulated–Jezebel, a prophetess, seducer, and fornicator. Do you party like Herodias’ daughter? Some of our families are so desperate for marriage that they quickly find suitable men to freely offer their daughters like Delilah and Leah. Marriage is marriage, right? Don’t forget those of us who can’t wait to have children because we’re not getting any younger. So like Sarah, who did the opposite of Hannah, we take matters into our own hands. In Sarah’s case, she encouraged her husband, Abraham to sleep with their handmaid, Hagar. She didn’t trust that God would bless her with child. How many of us lack the trust and faith in Christ that in His time He will bless us with the things and people we ask for? Then there’s Eve who was naive enough to listen to a talking serpent in a tree who tempted her with the power to gain the knowledge of good and evil.

These are just a few of the many women and personalities in the Bible. Some had characteristics that we lack, while others share our same traits as today’s women that is contrary to how a Christian ought to be. So which women of the Bible do you identify with?

“I don’t know. He went over there somewhere,” he responded while pointing to the open field on the right.

“Timmy, I asked you to keep an eye on your younger brother if you were going to play outside,” said Mrs. Peters with a hint of worry in her voice. “I can’t believe you let him wonder out there on his own. I am very disappointed in you. Now go back into the house while I go search for Tommy.”

Throughout the bible, we are given examples for familial relationships from Adam and Eve to Mary and Joseph . We have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Families that have walked together in faith like Noah’s. Families that killed like Adam’s, full of jealousy and envy like Joseph’s, or lust like David’s.

We have read about the lives of these parents, spouses and siblings. Some were happy endings while others ended in tragedy. Their lives are our lessons and yet throughout humanity, there are evidences of how we still don’t get it. We are still in remedial class though all of the answers to our questions have already been given to us in the Word of God.

As Christians, we have been charged with the great responsibility of being our brother and (sister)’s keeper. Remember the story of Cain and Abel in the book of Genesis. Adam and Eve bore two sons, Cain then Abel. Cain was a tiller of the ground while Abel was a keeper of sheep. Both brought offerings unto the Lord but God only accepted one of the two. Cain killed Abel because God chose Abel’s offering over his. Read the story in Genesis 4 . “And the LORD said unto Cain, where is Abel they brother? And he said, I know not; Am I my brother’s keeper?” Why would God ask Cain for Abel when He had foreseen the first crime? God is omniscient. He knows and sees everything. He doesn’t need to ask what happened, but gives you an opportunity to confess to Him.

Throughout the bible, we see the word, “keeper.”A keeper is someone who is a guardian or protector. David, the son of Jesse, was a keeper of sheep. He protected them from any harm that would present itself in the wildness, such as lions.

Jesus is our keeper [Psalm 121:5 KJV] but He has enlisted us to also look after one another. Don’t be mistaken. Jesus is more than able to handle this task, however, being a Christian or follower of Christ is all about self-accountability and accountability for others.

God is holding us accountable for our family AND friends. Most of us would rather focus on our own families rather than our global family. Aren’t we all related through God, our Creator? “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” [Genesis 1:27 KJV] You are responsible for every man, woman, and child regardless of your familial relation.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16 KJV] Does it say anywhere that the Son died for one and not the other? No! It says “whosoever believeth” not if you’re related to me or share the same ethnicity.

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Romans 10:12, 13 KJV]

We can rest assured knowing that God is our keeper for He “shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul” [Psalm 121:7 KJV] without discrimination.